God has such a wonderful sense of humor. No sooner had I written last month’s column about the need to get out of our “comfort zones,” I had a chance to test my own philosophy. In the article, I suggested ...

I have come to realize that there is much to be appreciated about the word “appreciation.” In today’s culture it’s often used casually and without thought, making it lose meaning. If we consider the word in full context, we are ...

I am being haunted by the ghost of Christmas past. Now before you say, “Mark, the holiday season was so over weeks ago,” work with me here. Instead of the usual seasonal leftovers (like bills), one thing sticks in my ...

I’m here to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. I’ve heard that said from the pulpit more than once, when the next thing to be taught from the pastor might be a bit uncomfortable. It’s an excellent concept, you ...

Do you ever get the feeling that “Let’s Make A Deal” isn’t just a TV game show? Everyone’s day is filled with negotiations and give and take, with plenty of agreements that can be positive. More often than not, the ...

How did it come to this? My generation, once the largest and most vibrant age group in America, is now in the process of entering the time of life known as aches, pains and the road to retirement. In fact, ...

As the song says, “There ain’t no cure for the summertime blues.” Forget the grammatical issue with that line (though “ain’t” is now in dictionaries). There really are many ways to remedy this seasonal malady. I know, “malady” is an ...

Now that we are in the midst of our long, hot summer, I can’t help but think back to those “Good Ol’ Days.” As a Baby Boomer kid, everything seemed simpler and less stressful then. Here’s one thing I’ve realized ...

From my elementary school years (shortly after the earth cooled), one of my earliest memories is this: My teacher asking me to “Speak up” as in “We can’t hear you!” Considering what I do for a living this may sound ...